Woman indicted in death of Lizzi Marriott of Westboro

BRENTWOOD, N.H. — A 19-year-old woman has been indicted on charges that she lied about her whereabouts the day Elizabeth “Lizzi” Marriott of Westboro was killed last year.

Kathryn “Kat” McDonough of Portsmouth was indicted in Rockingham Superior Court this month on felony charges of hindering apprehension or prosecution, conspiracy to commit hindering apprehension or prosecution and witness tampering.

Prosecutors say McDonough lied when she told investigators she had no contact with Ms. Marriott, a University of New Hampshire student, on Oct. 9 — the day prosecutors say Seth Mazzaglia strangled or suffocated the UNH sophomore at his Dover apartment. Prosecutors say McDonough also gave a false alibi for her and Mazzaglia’s whereabouts.

McDonough also allegedly told another woman to lie to investigators.

Marriott’s family said in a written statement Wednesday that they had been advised by the New Hampshire attorney general’s office of the indictment. They expressed gratitude to the AG and the police agencies involved in the investigation, and hope that the investigation would produce further evidence leading to tougher criminal sanctions against those connected to their daughter’s death.

Marriott’s body has not been found.

“It is the family’s opinion that Ms. McDonough, or any other individuals who are ultimately found to be involved with Lizzi’s homicide or the conspiracy to frustrate the investigation of the homicide, bear both a moral and legal responsibility for Lizzi’s death as well as the family’s ongoing anguish over their inability to provide their daughter with a proper burial,” the statement reads.

“It is the Marriotts’ understanding that Ms. McDonough befriended Lizzi when they both worked at a local Target store in New Hampshire. It is the Marriotts’ opinion that the betrayal of that friendship contributed to Lizzi’s death and the disappearance of her body.”